2 JVP parliamentarians remanded in Galle

[TamilNet, Friday, 13 August 2010, 12:34 GMT]
Sri Lanka police in Galle arrested and detained parliamentarians Vijitha Heart and Ajith Kumara, of Democratic National Alliance (DNA) led by Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) Thursday evening. They were arrested when they went to Galle police staion to secure the release of four men who had participated in the protest march held in Galle town demanding the release of Sarath Fonseka, former Sri Lanka Army Commander who had contested against President Mahinda Rajapaksa in the last presidential election and lost.

The DNA began the protest march from the Olcott statue premise in Galle around 3:45 p. m and was informed by the police that they would not be allowed to continue their march.

DNA MP Vijitha Herath had told the police that there was no law to prevent a peaceful protest march and had continued the demonstration march towards Galle bus stand disregarding the police warning.

The police said they used tear gas and baton charged to disperse the crowd.

DNA parliamentarians Vijitha Herat, Arjuna Ranatunge, and Anoma, wife of Sarath Fonseka and several others who participated in the protest were among those hit by teargas.

The arrested parliamentarians along with ten others were produced in court by the police on charges that they had assaulted the police personnel. Galle magistrate ordered them to be placed in remand til 16 August.

Arjuna Ranatunge, the former captain of the Sri Lanka Cricket who went to the police station with the two arrested MPs, however, was not arrested.